Gathering of Agriculture Innovators

MILLHEIM, PA. December 19, 2012 - The Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) announces the 22nd Annual Farming for the Future Conference to be held February 6-9, 2013 at the Penn Stater Conference Center in State College, PA, around the theme, Starting Fresh, Starting Local, Starting Now.

Over the past two decades, the Farming for the Future Conference has secured a reputation as a premiere gathering place for leaders in the global sustainable food movement. The 2013 conference is expected to attract more than 2,000 farmers, chefs, students, business leaders and others from over 30 U.S. state and several foreign nations. Conference programming is slated to cover key policy issues, financial skills and labor topics, as well as cheesemaking, small fruits, season extension, beekeeping and so much more!

“No longer a fringe idea, “sustainability” has entered the lexicon of mainstream America. For us, the idea is more than a buzzword; it is a driving vision that must be implemented if humankind is to survive on this planet in the balance with the natural environment, and in a way that promotes well being and justice for all people,” said Brian Snyder, PASA’s Executive Director.

Snyder continued, “This year our theme is simple: Starting Fresh, Starting Local, Starting Now. More than ever, it is becoming clear that our prevailing systems for producing and procuring good food for our communities, and for the world, must be reformed rather drastically in order to success. Never before has it been so clear how much our future depends on our ability to transform the way that food comes to our plates!”

Keeping with the theme of new thinking and transformation, renowned speaker and author, Charles Eisenstein will be keynote speaker on Friday. Charles focuses on themes of civilization, consciousness, money and human cultural evolution. His primary writings are the books The Ascent of Humanity and Sacred Economics. He will provide us with an aspiring glimpse of the world built on the passionate generosity of each of us - a world in which we are all valued and encouraged to share our unique gifts.

Ben Hewitt, main speaker for the PASAbilities Award Series Plenary, is best known for his 2010 book The Town that Food Saved, which chronicles the story of Hardwick, VT, and the efforts to blueprint and implement a localized food system. An energetic speaker, Ben believes that not only must we reconsider our relationship to food and agriculture, but also to wealth and community.

PASA extends special thanks to Opening Keynote Sponsor Lady Moon Farms & PASAbilities Leadership Award Series Sponsor Kimberton Whole Foods for their support of these portions of the conference programming.

The conference will present numerous other leaders in sustainable agriculture, including Atina Diffley, Organic Farming Works, LLC, a renowned expert in wholesale marketing and food safety; Steve Moore, a pioneer in greenhouse & high tunnel production; innovative farmstead cheesemaker, Gianaclis Caldwell, Pholia Farm; and Abe Collins, Collins Grazing LLC, a leader in soil and pasture husbandry for over two decades. In addition to more than a dozen full-day Pre-Conference Tracks and over 100 conference workshops, Farming for the Future will host a full schedule of events and activities, including a seed swap, live music and youth programming.

“We look forward to welcoming you to this latest edition of one of the largest and most respected gatherings of sustainable agriculture experts and enthusiasts anywhere in the world,” commented Brian Snyder.